The State of the State's Education Crisis...It Ain't Pretty!

Happy Monday, everybody!  I was happy to awaken this morning to find that the predicted apocalypse did not materialize despite a blood-red-super-moon-eclipse-once-or-twice-maybe-three-times-in-a-lifetime event last night.  Granted, I'm color blind, but the only thing I saw that was actually blood red was the red wine I spilled on myself trying to keep the gnats from swimming in my glass.

Okay, so there's another crisis behind us.  Whew...next!  Oh, yes, there it is lurking in the corner (no, not creepy presidential candidates).

There was an AP article in Sunday's Woodward News about how the state board of education has now issued 842 emergency teaching certificates this year, a number that exceeds the entire total of certificates issued over the past four years!  If you're unaware, an emergency teaching certificate is a fancy way of saying the state will waive basic education and/or training requirements.  Teacher butts in seats is what we're talking about.

As is often the case in this state, when the government does something stupid they do something else to cover their tracks.  Think of it as the Oklahoma version of Newton's Law which in this case states, "for every action there is an equally stupid and opposite follow-on action."   With regard to the news of issuance of emergency teaching certificates, the reaction is that the state board also announced that it will launch a 60-member Teacher Shortage Task Force, which supposedly over the next year will study the problem and recommend solutions.  Uh huh, the problem is 1) they don't pay teachers enough in this state; and, 2) the state legislature is made up of the largest collection of morons in one location (someone notify Guinness Book of World Records please) who keeps coming up with solutions of its own that are sheer stupidity.

Those of you who are faithful readers know that I am no fan of the culture of mediocrity that makes up our state legislature.  I have derided nearly every attempt the dummies on North Lincoln Boulevard in Oklahoma City have made at fixing the education crisis in this state.

Let's see there was the magnanimous announcement of a pay raise for teachers, the fine print of which was that the increase would come from teachers' pension fund.  Judas priest...that will help you to recruit new teachers (NOT) when they realize the state is robbing Peter to pay Paul.  Eventually, the pension fund will run out, dumbasses!  They used to lock up the likes of Jimmy Hoffa and others for stealing from union pension funds, maybe elected officials should be held to a similar standard.

And, that announcement was followed almost immediately by state legislation being signed into law that makes it legal for teachers to carry guns onto school property.  Presumably, so that state educators can start holding up the kids for their lunch money to help make ends meet.

Let's see...oh, there was a recent proposal by our own state senator Bryce Marlatt who wants to pull money from the $1 BILLION tobacco trust fund to pay for teacher raises, etc.  The Tulsa World thought that was a bad idea, we at CCB aren't so sure.  At least Senator Marlatt had come up with something that made a little sense.  It will never fly though...the Oklahoma Attorney General already robs the tobacco trust fund of millions for his personal slush fund that no one will admit to.  He calls it the Evidence Fund...whatever the hell that is.

And, I realize that those of you (me included) who don't have kids in school right now tend to think, "Eh, who cares?  Just don't raise my taxes...I don't have a stake in this fight!"

Yeah, well, guess what...you do.  At the rate things are going, the state of Oklahoma will produce an entire generation of woefully undereducated kids who won't be able to function in an increasingly complex world.  It should matter to you.  These are the people who will eventually become the workforce of Oklahoma, providing services and filling jobs that will daily impact our lives.

Just sayin...

So it is that the state bored (sic) of education will spend the next 12 months (and who knows how many $$$$$s) sorting out the causes and possible solutions to the state's education crisis.  In the end, even if they come up with a solution it has to go to the morons in the state legislature for approval and funding.  That won't happen.  Those dummies haven't done anything substantive since statehood.

Do I have the answers?  Nope.  Wish I did.  Hopefully, somewhere along the way, someone will come up with something that doesn't involved short-sighted, politically motivated solutions.  This entire state's future is at stake!